When you were growing up, your parents or teachers probably told you to sit and stand straight, instead of slouching your back and shoulders. They themselves may not have exactly known why that was important, it just seemed that way. But more recent science has found that they were actually right in many more ways than they imagined.

Almost everyone I meet with expresses concerns about their posture. It makes total sense: we all sit way too much, and it is almost impossible to sit for long periods without becoming slightly rounded forward. For most of us some amount of sitting is a necessary evil, but that doesn't mean you can't take steps to mitigate the damages!

Many people are under the misconception that exercising regularly will combat the effects of sitting still for long periods of time but that is not the case. There is no amount of exercise that will take away the negative impact that sitting down has on your body cumulatively.

Sitting is the new smoking, or at least that's what the manufacturers of standing desks (and there are several of them these days) will tell you. The medical profession agrees, and experts have identified some 34 diseases and conditions that are associated with excess sitting.

Backpacks can vary greatly in size, and Cameron also says it's a balance between finding one large enough without overwhelming the person wearing it. As well, the pack should be worn in line with the hip bones rather than being higher up the back or lower down on the buttocks.

It is no wonder that so many of us consistently feel slightly stiff, achy or tight. We all have used up our "body credit" and gone into "debt." When you push your body, and you don't recover at an appropriate rate, you go into "body debt." Debt causes you to grow increasingly stiff, sore, achy, tired, cranky and generally run down.

Every woman seems to have a goal in mind for their backside. Standing and engaging your postural muscles has a waist-slimming effect. The added benefit to this, better spine alignment and all the health benefits of increased neural and blood flow. But who cares about the health benefits, people are going to be asking your trainer for "That Butt," and pointing at you.

I know, the head and neck are not the most glamorous body parts to train. Getting nice legs or a toned tummy is often what motivates people to work out. But I attended a lecture that reinforced how the placement of the head and neck is an important, though often ignored, element of posture.

Gentlemen, if you're the type to make New Year's resolutions, make 2013 the year you take five simple steps to improve your image and make a better impression in the world. Without spending extra money, you can sharpen your image by following these simple steps, making for a more confident and memorable 2013.